SHIMADA TANTO

Exquisite Shimada Tanto (fss-380)

Mei: Mumei   Date: (Koto) 1400's
Nagasa : 13  7/8 "
Sori: 4.5 mm
Width at the ha-machi: 26.7 mm
Thickness at the mune-machi: 5.2 mm
Construction: hira-zukuri
Mune: Mitsu (three sides)
Nakago: ubu
Kitae: mokume/masame
Hamon: O-midare mixed with notare midare
Boshi:  Midare Komi
Condition:  Excellent older style sashikomi polish, no flaws

We are very happy to place such a fine quality item for sale such as this exquisite Shimada tanto with fine mounts all in dragon motif.  From the stylized dragon carved in the blade itself done in a Soshu style carving, to the mounts all adorn with dragons.  This fine Japanese Tanto is an absolutely beautiful work of art.

  

"Click on the pictures to view"
 

THE BLADE

THE SHIMADA SCHOOL:

    The founder of the Shimada school is said to have been Yoshisuke, who lived in Suruga province in mid-fifteenth century.  Like that of his younger brother, his name seems to have been carried on by several generations of smiths of this school, and work of  these later smiths has been attributed dating from the mid-muromachi period.  The school's other smiths include Hirosuke, YoshitsunA and Motosuke.
    The school maintained a close relationship with the Sue-Soshu school, and seems to have had technical exchanges with the Shitahara and Sengo schools and with the smiths of Mino province.

 This particular Shimada blade has a very Soshu influence.  The hamon is well made with an abundance of activity.  The hada is mokume, masame mix as in many Shimada swords and is forged well.  The horimono or carving is done in a Soshu stylized dragon wrapped around a ken blade with bonji on both sides.  The shape of this blade is also and early shape tanto of the 1400's.  This elegantly made blade with its strong Soshu influence is one of the best we have seen of its kind.

 

THE KOSHIRAI

 The koshirai for this tanto is clearly of excellent quality.  The motif is dragons starting with the fittings and ending with an inlayed silver dragon in the lacquer of the saya.  The silver inlay matches the silver menuki dragons.  If you note the menuki appear to go thru the handle.  On one side the dragons head is visible and the other side is the leg, as if it travels from one side to the other.  This is typical of  fittings that are individually designed for a custom order.  The fuchi and kashira have a full and long signature of the maker and are papered also.  The tsuba is a dark shakudo metal as are the fuchi kashira and highly carved.  The saya has some minor chipping from age and is absolutely original and unique.  The handle is in a fine silk string wrap that is intact and in great condition for its age.  The kodzuka is also fully signed as is the blade of the kodzuka.  The mounts are held together by a tsunagi for displaying such an important set of mounts.

 

PAPERS

TOKUBETSU KICHO TOKEN

Ninteisho

1, Wakizashi, mumei (Shimada) ! piece

Length: 1 shaku, 1 sun, 6 bu

The above item, as a result of a shinsa at this organization, has been designated a TOKUBETSU KICHO TOKEN and verified as being genuine. October 12, 1977

Owner:: Kajihara Kotoken

 

Please note the provenance of this Tanto:
This Exquisite Tanto once belonged to Kajihara Kotoken, the author of the Illustrated Japanese Sword Glossary.

Kajihara Kotoken was a well known sword polisher and author.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

NCJSC TOKEN KAI KANTEI-SHO
 

This certificate of appraisal states that the fittings were made by Hidetoki and are of very good quality

Please note:
This certificate was issued by John M. Yamoto of the NCJSC.  John M. Yamoto was the author of one of the very first book in English, "The Japanese Sword"  Almost every collector in the US owns a copy.  This certificate is signed by him personal.

 

This tanto comes polished, papered, in shirasaya with tsunagi for mounts and bags for preservation and storage.

This sword is on consignment.

~SOLD~

Order number  for this item is : fss-380

 

 

  Back To Swords For Sale   │   Tsuba    │   Fittings   │   Home

 

15